When I was a kid, my grand parents have an early, early 80's Chevy conversion van. Had captains chairs, TV, fridge, card table, couch sized back seat. We had a blast on our road trips up to Estes Park, CO in it!
always loved those big old conversion vans I always wanted to play mario or sonic in one lol the 90's were great would be nice to see a chevy conversion van!
Growing up we had a 94 Econoline conversion van that had a vacuum just like this one everyone thought it was the coolest thing ever when Honda announced that feature on the Odyssey I told my friends about our old van and they didn't believe me lol
I never had a van, but I can say with all my heart I love these, I'd really own one if I had an excuse and a place to park it. They truly are straight luxury and I just love the look. Vans are and hopefully will always be a great part of our culture, and everyone's in every country. Man I like this van
This van is most likely either a barely running rustbucket or in a junkyard somewhere by now, but I have always loved & always will love conversion vans. To me, they are the ultimate unsung heroes of the Brougham world.
My parents had one with TV and VCR. Came in handy for camping trips and the 351 V8 pulled the 30ft camper. Also did smokey burnouts when I got my license lol
My parents bought a 95' sherrod ford econoline brand new in 96, as it aged it turned into a complete lemon, it was plagued with electrical issues and left us stranded everywhere, lots of childhood memories in that thing
in 07 a friend drove a bunch of us to mexico in a van just like this. VCR and everything. It was a one of the best "in the car" experiences ever. In the back we watched moves and sat in excellent comfort. though by 07 the van was past her prime. everything was disintegrating.
God it sucks so much that the big 3 stoped making these full size vans the transits are nice but i think the e series van was a good looking van unlike the dodge promaster the new ones are just odd looking pluse no v8
max penrose get yourself a good used one while you still can. I picked up a 94 e150 Explorer conversion van 5.8l with 19,800 original garage kept miles. It’s unbelievable I so love my van. I know where a 90 e150 is now with 13,000 original miles as well
Back in the not too distant past, these things were everywhere from the Big 3. And there were tons of custom companies adding on all that whipped cream. They ranged in size from Chevy Astros and shorty V1500s to extended w/b Ford and Dodge 1 tons. When 1 was looking for all of the gadgets and creature comforts 1 might find in their living rooms, these were that on wheels. Since they were built on van chassis, they could haul your boat or heavy trailer too. Servicing these luxo barges was not a treat, as every inch of dash and inside engine covers were covered with toys and add ons. Lifting them was a chore too, with low long fiberglass running boards that always got to the lift arms before the pads met the frame, unless special adaptors were used. Still once upon a time, they were hugely popular. If I see 1 on the road today, it's rare, and usually they've been down graded to a scrapper's hauling machine, chugging and lugging away...
My granddad always keeps one of these in his driveway. Definitely the most comfortable way to go on a trip! Second (in my opinion) only to a full sized RV. And behind this is Lincoln Towncar or Cadillac Deville/DTS. We Americans may not be top of the tier with performance and handling, but we know how to make a damn good road-trip vehicle. A 10 hour trip in one of these feels more like 3.
I grew up with one of these Ford conversion vans myself and they were awesome! The other car we had was a Cadillac Seville. They both made a great pair. Really miss that van but sold it to a family that needed it. And my parents still drive the Seville and I have a newer Deville myself. Your right, we might not be the absolute best with handling or performance, but we do know how to build and produce some excellent riding, comfortable highway cruisers. :)
AMCNorthstar 93 Oh yeah, and not only do we make great road warriors, but those same cars last a long time and go a lot of miles. It's nothing to see a Town Car with over 200,000 miles still going strong.
Ha definitely not dying out in the good old US of A. My dad has an AWD Chevy Express conversion with Satellite tv and 20" rims, it only gets 14 mpg but dammit it rules the road!
When my parents had their 85 LTD they where thinking of getting a convergen van. My parents neighbors ended up getting a convergen van and they said it sucked in the snow. So my parents decided not to get one. Instead in 91 they got a awd Ford aerostar witch was great in the snow.
+Malchus Baraki yup Fords new multi-purpose Van looks all European now. They appear to have done away with the old E-series. Dodge has thiers, I think Chevy has stayed true to American styling though. I'll have to check
No... no it's not. But the conversion van market is still very much alive and well. Saw some examples at the Chicago Auto Show and at the Boat and RV show. Very modern and chic and one I saw even came with a small washroom all the way in the back.
I really enjoy these older high top conversion Ford and GM vans. The newer minivans are ok but they are just not the same. Like in this Sherrod, they were very well built and having only the best materials used throughout the interior. Although they were not the best in fuel efficiency, they did have a very good V8 engine powering these Fords that moved it very well along highway traffic.
MAN_ON_WHEELZ An aftermarket van modified into a conversion van is just not the same as being able to walk into the local dealership and drive one off the lot.
Larque Fausse To be honest, I've seen some newer FWD minivans with the modified aftermarket conversion look and they look horrible! They look awful with bad body proportions and just don't fit to there more modern day look. And the ones with wheelchair accessibility with the low to the ground floor pans and and raised way up off the ground is just awful looking.
Larque Fausse Well generally that's what a conversion van always has been, a regular passenger van converted into a luxury land yacht. I don't know how it was in the past but to the best of my knowledge conversion vans have always been built up by third parties. I've seen often a Ford E-series and Chevy Express conversion with company names on the side like Explorer. That can't have come from the manufacturer like that.
Like if you're a 90s kid and had grandparents who had one of these! The conversion van! My grandparents had one, and it was awesome. I remember when I was 12 years old, my grandparents took me on a road trip from Wichita, KS to Denver, CO in a van not too different from this. It was a really plush ride!
Mostly from being neglected and abused which is what happened to so many of them which is very sad!! The vans that really fell apart were the ones of the 70's and 80's when the build quality wasn't very good especially on the interiors. The 90's brought much improved build quality and much more luxurious interiors just like in this Ford Sherrod.
For long road trips the conversion van is superior to SUVs. Drove one from New Jersey to Florida in 1997. Way better and cheaper than flying and having to get a rental car.
If you've ever driven a classic Caddy/Chevy/Lincoln/Ford you'll notice with the gearbox steering it feels very similar. I could see how some people could enjoy that sensation. Not to mention being much higher up off the ground and being able to carry everything you need inside.
Everyday use will get expensive not being the best on fuel usage. But then again, I would much rather drive this than a oversized RV that gets Zero MPG!! These Ford vans are actually very easy to drive and very effortless. You do need to be aware of its height and length but its nothing that a person can't get use to.
Lol it's just a shnazzed up Ford Econoline, and the name is the "Charade". how appropriate perhaps they didn't want to use "Big Fat Phony" because that name was too long haha
I always thought these things were so cool, especially the electric folding sofa/bed. Like a little mini RV.
My girlfriend in high school had one... needless to say the sofa/bed got daily use... if the van's a rockin', don't come a knockin'...
+CEOkiller lmao
+CEOkiller I remember her, the back sofa/bed and that van. Sorry dude she told me she was single.
@@CEOkiller7 years later and still a rockin
When I was a kid, my grand parents have an early, early 80's Chevy conversion van. Had captains chairs, TV, fridge, card table, couch sized back seat. We had a blast on our road trips up to Estes Park, CO in it!
My Grandad too, definitely one of the best ways to travel over long distance.
My family's VERY AMERICAN Ford Econoline conversion van had a bathroom in it. We have a better van than your KOOKLA Chevy van.
AudioVox, the official brand of "I mean, the cassette player still works...why replace it?" Yep.
Yea Audiovox makes junk..w the markup on this van you would think they would at least go w a batter brand.
always loved those big old conversion vans I always wanted to play mario or sonic in one lol the 90's were great would be nice to see a chevy conversion van!
Looks like vacuums were in vans long before Honda put one in the Odyssey!
Growing up we had a 94 Econoline conversion van that had a vacuum just like this one everyone thought it was the coolest thing ever when Honda announced that feature on the Odyssey I told my friends about our old van and they didn't believe me lol
The idea for an integrated vacuum cleaner is not unique or original to Honda at all.
I never had a van, but I can say with all my heart I love these, I'd really own one if I had an excuse and a place to park it. They truly are straight luxury and I just love the look. Vans are and hopefully will always be a great part of our culture, and everyone's in every country. Man I like this van
"How many Lincoln Navigators do you see pounding through the forest?"
XD
It feels like most of these that are still on the road contain either a wheelchair lift or a meth lab.
nlpnt That's some funny ha.
nlpnt ha ha no doubt, mine is used for vacations pulling the motorcycles to the best roads in the world.
Nope.....It is just some guy living in a van by the river
Or free candy
Bbhaha!! "Breaking Bad" in a Ford Econoline conversion camper! 🤣🤣🤣 Would be an awesome food truck too!
This van is most likely either a barely running rustbucket or in a junkyard somewhere by now, but I have always loved & always will love conversion vans. To me, they are the ultimate unsung heroes of the Brougham world.
These vans are awesome , they are rare to see on the road .
I got a great 92 sherrod for $1500 in good shape...everything still works, great truck!
My parents had one with TV and VCR. Came in handy for camping trips and the 351 V8 pulled the 30ft camper. Also did smokey burnouts when I got my license lol
My parents bought a 95' sherrod ford econoline brand new in 96, as it aged it turned into a complete lemon, it was plagued with electrical issues and left us stranded everywhere, lots of childhood memories in that thing
in 07 a friend drove a bunch of us to mexico in a van just like this. VCR and everything. It was a one of the best "in the car" experiences ever. In the back we watched moves and sat in excellent comfort. though by 07 the van was past her prime. everything was disintegrating.
2:06 Add some Quigley 4x4, and it can.
I kinda want one of these now. Sure, it's huge and drinks a lot of gas, but I rode in a conversion van and it was the most comfy thing ever.
God it sucks so much that the big 3 stoped making these full size vans the transits are nice but i think the e series van was a good looking van unlike the dodge promaster the new ones are just odd looking pluse no v8
max penrose get yourself a good used one while you still can. I picked up a 94 e150 Explorer conversion van 5.8l with 19,800 original garage kept miles. It’s unbelievable I so love my van. I know where a 90 e150 is now with 13,000 original miles as well
max penrose Chevy still makes a 3/4 ton of 1 ton van that's like what were used to
Are you kidding, the promaster is better in every way than these dinosaurs.
if you need more then check out Explorer Vans. They are they only GM fULL SIZED van conversions out there for passenger use like this.
Back in the not too distant past, these things were everywhere from the Big 3. And there were tons of custom companies adding on all that whipped cream. They ranged in size from Chevy Astros and shorty V1500s to extended w/b Ford and Dodge 1 tons. When 1 was looking for all of the gadgets and creature comforts 1 might find in their living rooms, these were that on wheels. Since they were built on van chassis, they could haul your boat or heavy trailer too. Servicing these luxo barges was not a treat, as every inch of dash and inside engine covers were covered with toys and add ons. Lifting them was a chore too, with low long fiberglass running boards that always got to the lift arms before the pads met the frame, unless special adaptors were used. Still once upon a time, they were hugely popular. If I see 1 on the road today, it's rare, and usually they've been down graded to a scrapper's hauling machine, chugging and lugging away...
Very cool. You still see lots of these on the roads, but I still enjoy seeing them. I like the older Chevy conversion vans better, though.
may just be a modded e series but id still live in it
"Rolling JC Whitney Catalog" LOL
I could watch these all day. Which is what I'm doing.
My granddad always keeps one of these in his driveway. Definitely the most comfortable way to go on a trip! Second (in my opinion) only to a full sized RV. And behind this is Lincoln Towncar or Cadillac Deville/DTS. We Americans may not be top of the tier with performance and handling, but we know how to make a damn good road-trip vehicle. A 10 hour trip in one of these feels more like 3.
I grew up with one of these Ford conversion vans myself and they were awesome! The other car we had was a Cadillac Seville. They both made a great pair. Really miss that van but sold it to a family that needed it. And my parents still drive the Seville and I have a newer Deville myself. Your right, we might not be the absolute best with handling or performance, but we do know how to build and produce some excellent riding, comfortable highway cruisers. :)
AMCNorthstar 93 Oh yeah, and not only do we make great road warriors, but those same cars last a long time and go a lot of miles. It's nothing to see a Town Car with over 200,000 miles still going strong.
MAN_ON_WHEELZ Yes very true!! :)
ive had a ram and vandura in the UK .... abit thirsty but so awesome ... long live american iron!!!!
I have a '93, fantastic van to own!
My old 87 GMC Vandura 2500 conversion van. Only has 93,000 mi on it . It's a grate van!
I love to see these van on the road
big vans where awesome!
also this thign has stuff that's considered fancy and new today!? massage seat? TVs!
Ha definitely not dying out in the good old US of A. My dad has an AWD Chevy Express conversion with Satellite tv and 20" rims, it only gets 14 mpg but dammit it rules the road!
I still have one. Love it
I had one. but mine was a 1990 Chevy G 30. I'd loved it. I miss her
Beautiful van
These things were $40,000 new?!
Christ man... $3,000 for an immaculate example on CL in 2016.
Address conversion vans dealers Greenville s c phone number
Call me with information 8436160760
These are everywhere in Baltimore lol. Makes sense motorweek tested one, they are in Maryland where these were popular.
Theyre quite common in small pensylvania towns
When my parents had their 85 LTD they where thinking of getting a convergen van. My parents neighbors ended up getting a convergen van and they said it sucked in the snow. So my parents decided not to get one. Instead in 91 they got a awd Ford aerostar witch was great in the snow.
at 1:03 "Stereotype or not" ...and they show a picture of the rear seat stereo system LOL!
No one makes vans now. Minivans are not vans. Vans are big, square, and have dragons and women painted on the sides .....with mag wheels.
and a V8
+Malchus Baraki yup Fords new multi-purpose Van looks all European now. They appear to have done away with the old E-series. Dodge has thiers, I think Chevy has stayed true to American styling though. I'll have to check
***** Right, but I don't think the big vans have yet
chevy express vans and bus vans
If you meant American vans, I just want to point out that GM still manufactures the Express/Savana twins.
Yay another retro review!!!!
Looks fun to have one of these
The Chateau was nice too
nice, looking van.
Something else I'm a real big fan of conversion vans
Played Super Mario in the back of these to and from eighth grade.
Strange how art work used to be a part of the "van scene" in the 60's and 70's, but now you rarely if ever see it.
Everything has to be aggressive and sporty these days, super uncomfortable. Older cars are super smooth and soft I love it
I'm pretty sure I was conceived in one of these things
Tom Jones
It's not unusual
Classy.
them front seats look comfy AF
I love these big conversion vans.
I have one. They convert your money into gas.
city or highway?@@MrTruckerf
Highway!@@42luke93
Anyone know where I could get that handheld vacuum? I have the base but missing the vac itself.
My friends mom had one when we were in grade school it was nice
do you guy have any regular ford econolines from the 80s?
Don't care if anyone else didn't like them, to I thought these converison vans like this one were cool 😎 and I still think they're cool looking.
Me: Goes to google modern conversion vans.
Wow! Goss used a spellchecker!
Them seats look comfy as f**k.... I'd go right to sleep on I-95, I-75 or I-10 lol
Interstate Chariot! Ahhh yeaah!
I got this same van
Seinfeld's van! Seinfeld's van!
"did he say son of Sam??"
"i knew it wasn't Berkowitz!!!"
Radar detector? With how heavy that behemoth is you shouldn't have to worry about going too fast I don't think lol
THEY AR GOOD VANS WII WANT .THEM WILE LOVEM
Better than my house
I'm still trying to find the elusive Ford E250/350 with a V-10
Put many a mechanic's kids through college.
We had a conversion van.
I guess you can say that the modern minivan has replaced the the old-school conversion van, but they're just not the same.
No... no it's not. But the conversion van market is still very much alive and well. Saw some examples at the Chicago Auto Show and at the Boat and RV show. Very modern and chic and one I saw even came with a small washroom all the way in the back.
I really enjoy these older high top conversion Ford and GM vans. The newer minivans are ok but they are just not the same. Like in this Sherrod, they were very well built and having only the best materials used throughout the interior. Although they were not the best in fuel efficiency, they did have a very good V8 engine powering these Fords that moved it very well along highway traffic.
MAN_ON_WHEELZ
An aftermarket van modified into a conversion van is just not the same as being able to walk into the local dealership and drive one off the lot.
Larque Fausse To be honest, I've seen some newer FWD minivans with the modified aftermarket conversion look and they look horrible! They look awful with bad body proportions and just don't fit to there more modern day look. And the ones with wheelchair accessibility with the low to the ground floor pans and and raised way up off the ground is just awful looking.
Larque Fausse Well generally that's what a conversion van always has been, a regular passenger van converted into a luxury land yacht. I don't know how it was in the past but to the best of my knowledge conversion vans have always been built up by third parties. I've seen often a Ford E-series and Chevy Express conversion with company names on the side like Explorer. That can't have come from the manufacturer like that.
At 1:48 I forgot how old this video was and assumed he was holding an iPhone for a second.
Radar detector?
I'd drive this
I'll take one, as long as it's got a 7.3 Powerstroke :P
Now those are rare and desirable!
Ahh, the 90s...
My friend has a van that has problems does not go over 55 on the highway why would that happen
Losing power somehow......is the emergency brake on? In 2nd instead of Drive? Someone stole a spark plug or two? Could be many things.
Conversion Vans are Hotels on wheels.
Serial Killer Special...
Like if you're a 90s kid and had grandparents who had one of these!
The conversion van! My grandparents had one, and it was awesome. I remember when I was 12 years old, my grandparents took me on a road trip from Wichita, KS to Denver, CO in a van not too different from this. It was a really plush ride!
lol i want it
When these conversion vans fall apart they really fall apart
LOL, so true
Don't let it fall apart lol
Mostly from being neglected and abused which is what happened to so many of them which is very sad!! The vans that really fell apart were the ones of the 70's and 80's when the build quality wasn't very good especially on the interiors. The 90's brought much improved build quality and much more luxurious interiors just like in this Ford Sherrod.
vhs omg 😨 tube tv omg 😨 yessss!!!
What year was the van?
MID 90S
I'd say late 90s or early 2000s. He compared it to a Lincoln Navigator which was released in 98
2000
Zazur queen 👸 music 🎵
What no PlayStation?
Some came with optional game consul for the kids. Usually SNES or PlayStation.
1997
You forgot to mention the awesome 11mpg it got
The Dodge conversion van with 318 V8 got around 17mpg.
And today these are used as campers
more like sega genesis
Radar detector???? Wtf
I wish these became the big thing and not stupid SUVs.
Sherrod still makes them and the new ones are pretty badass, I would love to have one
For long road trips the conversion van is superior to SUVs. Drove one from New Jersey to Florida in 1997. Way better and cheaper than flying and having to get a rental car.
Most people dont wanna park something like this, thats why CRV and RAV4 type crossovers are more common than expedition and suburban type of suvs
I bet the owners of this van has CANDY in there!!!! 🍭 🍬
FREE candy.......if you're a kid.
I don't see how people drive these things everyday, for a weekend vehicle yeah but not everyday.
As a kid I learned to drive in a big van like this but without all that crap inside of it.
***** did it feel weird??
Its felt a little floaty but was comfortable :)
If you've ever driven a classic Caddy/Chevy/Lincoln/Ford you'll notice with the gearbox steering it feels very similar. I could see how some people could enjoy that sensation. Not to mention being much higher up off the ground and being able to carry everything you need inside.
Everyday use will get expensive not being the best on fuel usage. But then again, I would much rather drive this than a oversized RV that gets Zero MPG!! These Ford vans are actually very easy to drive and very effortless. You do need to be aware of its height and length but its nothing that a person can't get use to.
Somthing e
Gas hog vans lol
Lol it's just a shnazzed up Ford Econoline, and the name is the "Charade". how appropriate
perhaps they didn't want to use "Big Fat Phony" because that name was too long haha
no chauar.or.toy.let.no.god.van.